Norton Speed Disk Announced

Symantec Corp. (www.symantec.com) announced the Norton Speed Disk for Windows NT, a system tool for optimizing machine performance. The Norton product keeps a machine running without a system reboot and without turning off other services such as anti-virus software.

Subsequent releases of Norton Speed Disk for Windows NT are planned to be Windows 2000-ready. Companies who purchase Upgrade Insurance will receive the Windows 2000-ready version if it is released during the term of that contract.

Symantec reports that Speed Disk not only defragments a disk, but rearranges defragmented files so that important or frequently accessed files are at the beginning, making them more accessible.

The utility first begins by arranging the drive's content in an optimal order, which takes time, but the subsequent runs of Speed Disk are completed more quickly. Speed Disk defragments and optimizes directories, the Master File Table (MFT), page files, files and meta data. Administrators can manage the program from a central management console using Norton System Center. They can also schedule Speed Disk to run at off-peak times. The software will be available later this month. -- Brian Ploskina